HBO’s The Final of Us collection has loved acclaim from critics and followers alike for its devoted adaptation of the beloved 2013 sport. In contrast to so many online game diversifications which have come earlier than it, the narrative arcs, character dialogs, and cinematography that binds all the things collectively are similar to the supply materials. However not all the things is similar. HBO’s showrunners have to date carried out an excellent job each altering up some unique scenes in compelling methods and including thrilling new ones. Right here, we’re going to wrap up a number of the main variations between The Final of Us 2013 sport and the 2023 present now that season one has concluded.
Episode 1: When You’re Misplaced within the Darkness
Cordyceps: Origin, Contagion, Clickers – Within the present, the origin of the Cordyceps an infection is seen to have been speculated and doom mongered by Sixties docs, whereas within the video games it seems out of nowhere. Later within the episode, we come to know that the an infection is unfold through tendrils and bites from each Clickers and Runners, however within the video games, the an infection is unfold by spores that hold within the air.
Invoice and Frank – In Episode 1, we study that Invoice and Frank are in radio contact with Joel and Tess, whereas within the video games we solely run into Invoice while exploring Lincoln. After all, Frank has already died after having left Invoice attributable to their relationship souring.
The twenty-year time leap – A serious distinction between The Final of Us sport and the HBO adaptation is the totally different years by which the 2 are set. Whereas the sport takes place in 2013, the present’s present timeline is definitely 2023. There’s a whopping 20-year time hop from the early occasions of Episode 1 with Joel and Sarah to these within the QZ after we meet Tess.
Episode 2: Contaminated
Indonesian Physician Scene – The prequel scene we see in Episode 2 of The Final of Us isn’t within the video games. There is no such thing as a reference to an Indonesian Physician who advises the authorities to firebomb the cities as a final resort to cease the unfold of an infection; that is totally made up.
Ellie Will get Bit in Boston – In each the sport and present, Joel, Tess, and Ellie make their manner via the Bostonian Museum, the place they encounter Clickers for the primary time. The largest addition to this sequence within the present is that Ellie will get bit in the course of the assault – this solely additional confirms her Cordyceps immunity to Joel and Tess as she exhibits no indicators of an infection all through the episode.
Tess Suicide & Dying Request – Tess dies after sacrificing herself to decelerate a horde of operating contaminated, which follows her revealing that she had been bitten earlier by the clicker the trio had encountered. That is very totally different from the sport by which Tess truly dies after being shot by FEDRA. Moreover, within the present, Tess makes a dying request to Joel that he protects Ellie after which suggests he delivers her to Invoice and Frank so he can proceed his seek for Tommy. After all, within the video games, Tommy isn’t even lacking and so it’s urged that Tommy helps Joel as an alternative.
Episode 3: Lengthy Lengthy Time
Whereas Invoice does seem in The Final of Us sport, and Frank is referred to through a readable letter, their function within the narrative and their respective backstories have been modified for HBO’s adaptation. Consequently, each single scene in Episode 3 is totally totally different from something we see when enjoying the sport.
ln the video games, Joel and Ellie come throughout Invoice and his safehouse when navigating their manner via the city of Lincoln. It’s there the place gamers study that Frank has left after a disagreement with Invoice and in the end both killed himself or run into hassle quickly after. Joel and Ellie finally depart Invoice, who survives to grieve the lack of his good friend/accomplice (the character of their relationship isn’t explicitly confirmed however alluded to as romantic).
In HBO’s adaptation, nevertheless, Invoice and Frank clearly meet after Invoice has been surviving solo for a few years. They shortly develop a romantic relationship and dwell for a few years collectively, throughout which period they meet Joel and Tessa and change into mates and buying and selling companions. Frank and Invoice in the end find yourself committing suicide collectively after Frank falls terminally ailing, one thing found by Joel and Ellie after they go to within the hopes of securing secure passage to the Fireflies.
Episode 4: Please Maintain My Hand
Episode 4 of HBO’s adaptation can also be fairly totally different from the unique supply materials. Whereas Joel and Ellie do encounter a big metropolis within the video games, it’s not truly Kansas and their time there may be nowhere close to as eventful. Consequently, there are one or two new characters launched within the present that aren’t within the video games.
Kansas, not Pittsburgh – Ellie and Joel shortcut via Kansas Metropolis within the present, whereas within the video games it’s truly Pittsburgh.
Kathleen and different bandits – Kathleen, the bandit chief who has overthrown the native FEDRA and now instructions a big group, is on the hunt for Henry and his brother. After Joel and Ellie kill two of their quantity, the group is satisfied that the foursome is working collectively.
Underground disturbances – HBO’s present introduces a brand new theme within the burrowing contaminated, who had been pushed underground by FEDRA a few years again and now appear to be trying to claw their manner again as much as town streets.
Ellie helps to kill a bandit – Ellie’s first kill differs within the present from the unique supply materials. Whereas within the video games she kills a person who’s making an attempt to drown Joel, the present sees her shoot the bandit in Kansas who’s making an attempt to suffocate him. Technically, after all, she doesn’t deal the ultimate blow, however she does successfully doom him all the identical.
Tommy’s function within the story – As is the case with a number of characters within the present, Tommy has a a lot deeper backstory in HBO’s adaptation by comparability to the video games. We study all about his troubled previous within the present, and his relationship with Joel is stronger.
Episode 5: Endure & Survive
Sam’s backstory – Within the video games, Sam isn’t deaf as he’s in HBO’s adaptation, which undoubtedly makes him appear rather more weak. Henry performs nearly a father function to his brother, whom he should shield for apparent causes. In truth, one other key distinction between the video games and the present in Episode 5 is that we study Kathleen is chasing the 2 brothers as a result of Henry offered intelligence about Kathleen’s personal brother in change for drugs for Sam.
Showdown with bandits – Within the present, the bandits are clearly underneath the command of Kathleen, which they aren’t within the sport. Additionally, the ultimate escape scene performs out in a motel whereas within the sport it’s a tower.
Sam’s an infection – Sam is definitely contaminated in each the sport and the present, however within the present, Ellie makes an attempt to heal him by wiping his chunk wound along with her blood, which she mistakenly believes is a medication.
Episode 6: Kin
Aged couple – Ellie and Joel meet an aged couple in a rural cabin, who’re initially hostile earlier than realizing the pair pose no hazard. The couple explains to them that the west of the river is extremely harmful for all of the lifeless our bodies and contaminated they’ve discovered by the river, alluding to some type of bandit gang. This seems to be Tommy and co.
Tommy and Joel reunion – In contrast to within the video games, Tommy and Joel’s reunion isn’t interrupted by a firefight and as an alternative takes place within the city.
Tommy, Maria, and the child – Tommy has a spouse referred to as Maria who’s pregnant within the present, however this isn’t lined within the video games.
Ellie and Joel argument – Simply as within the video games, Joel asks Tommy to take Ellie to the Fireflies, however not like within the sport she doesn’t run to a close-by deserted ranch after overhearing the dialog. As an alternative, she merely confronts Joel in a room, the place the pair argue as Ellie explains she would solely be frightened with out him.
Shimmer the horse – Shimmer exists within the video games, however not till the TLOU Half 2, whereas within the present the horse is owned by Tommy and the pair journey him towards Colorado.
Joel’s wound – Joel is injured in each the present and the video games, however the nature of the damage is barely totally different. Slightly than falling from a balcony and being impaled by damaged glass, Joel is stabbed by a bandit.
Episode 7 – Left Behind
Episode 7 takes a break from the principle story of the present and as an alternative focuses on a story arc that’s truly a part of DLC content material for the unique sport (additionally named Left Behind). In any case, each are flashbacks that showcase Ellie’s previous along with her shut good friend Riley, however the present offers rather more element.
Ellie’s backstory – In HBO’s present, Ellie’s backstory is given additional context as we study extra about her life within the army academy. Ellie is proven getting right into a struggle with one other scholar who bullies her, and consequently, is disciplined by a FEDRA commander who convinces her that toeing the road and changing into an officer ought to be her precedence.
Riley’s backstory – Riley, we study, was a former FEDRA officer in coaching however truly left as a result of she found that was that she was destined to be placed on sewage element. She additionally explains that Marlene got here into contact along with her after operating away and recruited her for the Fireflies. None of that is talked about within the sport.
The Arcade – Within the sport, the pair play an arcade title referred to as The Turning, and attributable to having no electrical energy should think about the sport the pair play within the arcade is Mortal Kombat II. It’s one of many cooler variations between the present in episode 7 and the The Final of Us: Left Behind sport DLC. This arcade sport is powered up and dealing, whereas within the DLC Riley asks Ellie to think about it.
The contaminated strike – The pair are attacked by a single contaminated, whereas within the sport there’s an entire group of contaminated that bear down on them.
Episode 8 – When We Are in Want
Ellie & the Bunny – The bunny lives! In contrast to within the sport, the bunny lives as Ellie will get distracted looking an expensive, which finally leads her to David and James. Additionally not like within the sport, Ellie makes use of a rifle and never a bow.
David the Preacher – The opening of Episode 8 offers us a deeper have a look at David and his neighborhood. Within the present, the chief is a preacher who makes use of the gospel to compel his followers, which isn’t one thing featured within the sport. We additionally get to see rather more of David’s neighborhood, typically, a lot of whom appear afraid of him (for good purpose).
James – James is given rather more display time within the HBO present. He acts as David’s righthand man, and enjoys a bit extra character growth than what’s seen within the sport. He possible has a extra fleshed-out function given that he’s performed by Troy Baker, the voice and actor who portrays Joel within the sport.
No boss fights – There are not any contaminated on this episode of The Final of Us, which may be very totally different from the sport by which Ellie and David battle waves of contaminated as a part of a boss encounter that additionally includes a Bloater.
Ellie/David struggle – Simply as within the sport, Ellie battles David after a fireplace breaks out. The fireplace is attributable to Ellie within the present, whereas within the sport it’s an accident. In any case, the pair find yourself preventing in a scene that’s similar to how it’s depicted within the sport. David’s loss of life is much extra brutal although as Ellie isn’t stopped by Joel halfway via killing him.
Episode 9 – Search for the Mild
Ellie’s mom, Anna – Within the sport, Ellie’s mom is barely alluded to, whereas within the present we truly meet her for the primary time and study a bit of about her backstory; particularly, that she was bitten in the course of the delivery of Ellie. That is maybe a clue as to how Ellie is resistant to the consequences of the Cordyceps fungus. We additionally see Anna die after she instructs Marlene to kill her, none of which occurs within the sport. Anna is performed by Laura Bailey, the voice and actress who portrays Ellie within the sport.
Joel’s scar – The present sees Joel inform a narrative in regards to the origins of a scar he has on his head, which he explains was the results of an tried suicide after struggling to return to phrases with the loss of life of his daughter. This isn’t a part of the unique supply materials.
No Joel & Sarah image – Within the sport, Tommy tries to provide Joel an image of himself and his daughter, Sarah, which Joel refuses. Ellie takes this image, and she or he later admits to Joel she has it. Joel is lastly seen to simply accept his daughter’s loss of life. None of that is featured in Episode 9.
No underground scene – Within the sport, Joel and Ellie are compelled to navigate a flooded underground passage stuffed with broken-down autos, which doesn’t seem within the present.
Fireflies – Within the sport, Joel and Ellie come throughout the Fireflies in a wrestle, whereas within the present they’re truly snuck up on and attacked by them.
That wraps up our abstract of the key variations between The Final of Us HBO and the sport. In case you’re curious to learn what we expect ought to be modified forward of Season 2 then try our function on the topic right here.